Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin
enThe Guardian New York City to Amazon: drop dead by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/guardian-new-york-city-amazon-drop-dead-erin-durkin
<span>The Guardian New York City to Amazon: drop dead by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">New York City to Amazon: drop dead</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Thu, 11/15/2018 - 10:18am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/guardian" hreflang="en">The Guardian</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/14/amazon-hq2-new-york-protest-queens-long-island-city">https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/14/amazon-hq2-new-york-protest-…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2018-11-15T15:18:12Z">Thu, 11/15/2018 - 10:18</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2018-11-15T12:00:00Z">Thu, 11/15/2018 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The city also agreed to facilitate construction of a new helipad on the site for Amazon executives. The <a href="https://benkallos.com/">Manhattan city councilman Ben Kallos</a> said the arrangement made Amazon’s chief executive, Jeff Bezos, look like a “Bond villain”.</p>
<p>“The governor and the mayor have decided to throw Jeff Bezos almost $3bn in subsidies and tax breaks – and throw in a helipad so he doesn’t have to take the damn 7 train,” said <a href="https://council.nyc.gov/district-26/">city councilman Jimmy Van Bramer</a>, who represents Long Island City. “He wants this helipad so he doesn’t actually really have to spend any time in Queens.”</p>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>New York City to Amazon: drop dead</p>
<p>In Queens, opponents of second HQ say building plans bypass elected officials, will rip off taxpayers and harm neighborhood</p>
<p> Protesters hold up anti-Amazon signs during a coalition rally and press conference of elected officials, community organizations and unions in Long Island City, New York. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP</p>
<p>Politicians and advocates gathered in Queens on Wednesday to denounce a multibillion-dollar plan to bring <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/13/amazon-hq2-second-headquarters-new-york-long-island-city-response">a new Amazon headquarters</a> to New York. One city councilman called the move “an assault on our democracy”.</p>
<p><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/62ffbd703603582ed13f6534f8ad49544606c87b/0_160_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c919a7abddacdda9075adfa48e232170" /></p>
<p><a>'It's obscene and wrong': Amazon HQ2 gets typically warm New York welcome</a></p>
<p>Rallying across the street from the Long Island City site where Amazon’s new campus is set to rise, opponents called the plan – which will give <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/amazon">Amazon</a>nearly $3bn in tax breaks and subsidies from state and city – a ripoff to taxpayers that will stress the neighborhood’s infrastructure while doing little to help local residents.</p>
<p>“The more we learn about this deal, the worse it gets,” said <a href="https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/michael-gianaris">state senator Michael Gianaris</a>, who represents the neighborhood. “This is a bad deal, and the state and the city should both be embarrassed to be stand behind this deal. They got taken, plain and simple.”</p>
<p>The plan, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/13/amazon-hq2-second-headquarters-new-york-city-virginia">announced on Tuesday</a> by New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, and New York City’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, will bring 25,000 Amazon workers to 4m square feet of office space on a waterfront Long Island City site, across the East river from Manhattan.</p>
<p> The New York state senator Michael Gianaris calls on supporters to remove the Amazon app from their phones and boycott the company. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP</p>
<p>The Seattle-based tech company orchestrated a year-long competition between cities around the US, soliciting bids for a location to build a second headquarters. Instead of one new project it ended up announcing two major new offices, one in New York and one in Arlington, Virginia.</p>
<p>In return for the jobs, which Amazon says will pay an average of $150,000 a year, the company will get at least $1.5bn in cash subsidies and tax breaks from the state, and another $1.3bn in tax breaks from the city. The mayor and governor say they will come out on top, getting $9 back in revenue for every dollar spent.</p>
<p>Don’t be fooled by the magic numbers that they’re throwing around. This is a bunch of bull</p>
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<p><cite>Michael Gianaris, state senator</cite></p>
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<p>Critics cast doubt on that claim, noting a different development project that would have produced revenue was planned for the site before Amazon came along. The land in a once-industrial neighborhood is now dotted with warehouses, taxi depots, an outdoor bar and a shuttered restaurant that was at the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/nyregion/de-blasio-mayor-nyc-bribe-singh.html">center of a corruption scandal</a> for the city’s mayor.</p>
<p>“Don’t be fooled by the magic numbers that they’re throwing around,” said Gianaris. “This is a bunch of bull.”</p>
<p>Lawmakers will never get the chance to vote on the plan, since the state is routing it through an economic development agency controlled by the governor, avoiding city council approval on zoning changes that would normally be required.</p>
<p>“This is not only an assault on Long Island City,” said the <a href="https://council.nyc.gov/district-39/">city councilman Brad Lander</a>, a Brooklyn Democrat. “It’s not only an assault on housing affordability. It’s not only an assault on transit capacity. This is an assault on our democracy.”</p>
<p>Amazon has promised in a non-binding agreement to help fund a modest job training program and set aside space for a tech startup incubator. Opponents say much more would be needed to make the deal worthwhile for the city, like help for the area’s delay-plagued subways, sewer systems that often back up, overcrowded schools and scarce affordable housing.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, residents at the nearby <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/nyregion/amazon-queens-queensbridge-houses.html">Queensbridge Houses</a> – the largest public housing project in the US – complained of heat outages, officials said.</p>
<p>“Today is a great day to be a real-estate broker in Long Island City,” said <a href="http://nyf.org/speakers/jonathan-westin/">Jonathan Westin</a>, head of New York Communities for Change. “Today is a horrible day to be a tenant struggling to make rent.”</p>
<p>The city also agreed to facilitate construction of a new helipad on the site for Amazon executives. The <a href="https://benkallos.com/">Manhattan city councilman Ben Kallos</a> said the arrangement made Amazon’s chief executive, Jeff Bezos, look like a “Bond villain”.</p>
<p>“The governor and the mayor have decided to throw Jeff Bezos almost $3bn in subsidies and tax breaks – and throw in a helipad so he doesn’t have to take the damn 7 train,” said <a href="https://council.nyc.gov/district-26/">city councilman Jimmy Van Bramer</a>, who represents Long Island City. “He wants this helipad so he doesn’t actually really have to spend any time in Queens.”</p>
<p>De Blasio defended the deal in a TV interview.</p>
<p>“It’s by far the biggest number of new jobs this city has ever seen,” he said on MSNBC. “We want to see the borough of Queens thrive. We want to see people in every neighborhood have opportunities. We want to see people in public housing have chances for jobs, students who go to our public universities have chances for jobs.”</p>
<p>The mayor said Amazon asked for more than it got in subsidies. If the company does not come through with the promised jobs, he said, the government could recover the money.</p>
<p>“I get very upset when I see something that I think is a giveaway to a corporation,” he said. “We drove a hard bargain. We’re getting a whole lot more tax revenue back than anything the city or state are putting in. We’re getting a number of jobs that’s almost unimaginable …</p>
<p>“We’ve made clear to Amazon those jobs need to go to everyday New Yorkers.</p>
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<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/land-use" hreflang="en">Land Use</a></div>
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Thu, 15 Nov 2018 15:18:11 +0000Josh Jamieson6593 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News Construction sites must lower noise during city’s quiet time under new law by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-construction-sites-must-lower-noise-during-citys-quiet-time-under
<span>New York Daily News Construction sites must lower noise during city’s quiet time under new law by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">Construction sites must lower noise during city’s quiet time under new law</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Wed, 12/20/2017 - 9:58am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-city-law-reduces-construction-noise-quiet-time-article-1.3709865">http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-city-law-reduces-construction-nois…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-12-20T00:00:00Z">Tue, 12/19/2017 - 19:00</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-12-20T12:00:00Z">Wed, 12/20/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Construction done at odd hours will have to turn down the volume under a bill passed by the City Council on Tuesday.</p><p>The legislation sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos places stricter limits on construction within 200 feet of a home before 7 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and any time on weekends.</p><p>“New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but that shouldn’t be because of after-hours construction that wakes you up,” said Kallos (D-Manhattan). “Noise is the top complaint in New York City.”</p><p>The construction cacophony will be capped at 80 decibels next year, and dropped to 75 in 2020. The current limit is 85 decibels.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><div itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3709863.1513729726!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/parks.jpg" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"><figure><img alt="NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3709863.1513729726!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/parks.jpg" srcset="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3709863.1513729726!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/parks.jpg 750w, http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3709863.1513729726!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/parks.jpg 1200w" style="height: 186px; width: 250px;" /><figcaption><h2 itemprop="description">Construction workers will have to lower the noise starting in 2018 under a new law.</h2></figcaption></figure></div><aside id="ra-left"><section><div itemprop="publisher" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"><div itemprop="logo" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"> </div></div><div content="2017-12-19T22:53:57">Updated: Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 10:53 PM</div></section></aside><article id="ra-body" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Construction done at odd hours will have to turn down the volume under a bill passed by the City Council on Tuesday.</p><p>The legislation sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos places stricter limits on construction within 200 feet of a home before 7 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and any time on weekends.</p><p>“New York City may be the city that never sleeps, but that shouldn’t be because of after-hours construction that wakes you up,” said Kallos (D-Manhattan). “Noise is the top complaint in New York City.”</p><p>The construction cacophony will be capped at 80 decibels next year, and dropped to 75 in 2020. The current limit is 85 decibels.</p><p><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/worker-dies-struck-metal-piece-chelsea-site-article-1.3707065">Worker dies after being struck by metal piece at Chelsea site</a></p><p>The city would also be given the power to shut down pieces of construction equipment that are too loud.</p><p>It will also make it easier to do noise complaint inspections because they won’t have to be inside the home of the person who complained.</p><p>“The Administration worked closely with the City Council in negotiating this legislation. We look forward to reviewing the final version that was passed by the Council.” said City Hall spokesman Seth Stein.</p><div><div><h2> </h2></div></div></article><p> </p></div>
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<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/affordable-housing" hreflang="en">Affordable Housing</a></div>
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Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:58:13 +0000Josh Jamieson6098 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News City Council passes bill allowing New Yorkers to register to vote online by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-city-council-passes-bill-allowing-new-yorkers-register-vote-online
<span>New York Daily News City Council passes bill allowing New Yorkers to register to vote online by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">City Council passes bill allowing New Yorkers to register to vote online</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Fri, 11/17/2017 - 3:44pm</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-council-passes-bill-allowing-nyc-voters-register-online-article-1.3638383">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-council-passes-bill-allowing-nyc-voter…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-11-17T00:00:00Z">Thu, 11/16/2017 - 19:00</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-11-17T12:00:00Z">Fri, 11/17/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>New Yorkers will soon be able to register to vote online after the City Council passed legislation to allow it Thursday.</p>
<p>The city Campaign Finance Board will set up a website and create an app to allow would-be voters to register.</p>
<p>“It seems like every election in New York City, it’s a new low for voter turnout,” said Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), noting the dismal turnout in last week’s mayoral election.</p>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>New Yorkers will soon be able to register to vote online after the City Council passed legislation to allow it Thursday.</p><p>The city Campaign Finance Board will set up a website and create an app to allow would-be voters to register.</p><p>“It seems like every election in New York City, it’s a new low for voter turnout,” said Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), noting the dismal turnout in last week’s mayoral election.</p><p>The city will also make its program available to other apps, who could offer up voter registration themselves.</p><p>“Facebook could register people to vote,” Kallos said.</p><p>The legislation, which Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign, will create an indirect system to get around issues at the Board of Elections, where commissioners have not signed off on online registration. Instead, CFB will let people register online, then print out paper forms for them and deliver them to the elections board.</p><p>Right now, only the state Department of Motor Vehicles can sign up voters electronically, a process that requires additional identification and is off limits to those without DMV accounts.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/elections" hreflang="en">Elections</a></div>
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Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:44:21 +0000Josh Jamieson6044 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News NYC students create City Council legislation to help gay kids in schools by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-nyc-students-create-city-council-legislation-help-gay-kids-schools
<span>New York Daily News NYC students create City Council legislation to help gay kids in schools by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">NYC students create City Council legislation to help gay kids in schools</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Wed, 06/07/2017 - 8:54am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nyc-students-create-city-council-legislation-gay-kids-article-1.3227204">http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nyc-students-create-city-council-legis…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-06-07T00:00:00Z">Tue, 06/06/2017 - 20:00</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-06-07T12:00:00Z">Wed, 06/07/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>They originally conceived of a requirement that every school set up a group to help gays but learned the Council doesn’t have the authority to mandate that. Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) introduced the legislation on their behalf Tuesday. “The rise of hate crimes nationally and in the city means it is more important than ever that the city supports our LGBTQ youth through these student-run clubs,” he said.</p>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi City Councilman Ben Kallos introduced the bill on behalf of the students. (JEFFERSON SIEGEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS) BY ERIN DURKIN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, June 7, 2017, 12:17 AM A group of Manhattan middle schoolers are leaving their mark on city government — coming up with a bill to give a boost to school groups that aid gay students. The eighth-graders are the masterminds behind legislation introduced Tuesday to require the city to release data on which schools have a club to support LGBT students — known as a gay straight alliance or gender sexuality alliance — and whether the clubs are getting city cash. “Some LGBT students don’t have a very welcoming environment at home, and it’s the responsibility for our schools to have a safe space for these students,” said Katerina Corr, 13, an eighth-grader at East Side Middle School, noting a recent surge in hate crimes. “We know that it’s hard to try to change everyone’s views, and no matter how hard you try there’s always going to be a bully,” she said. Joe Biden officiates wedding for gay DNC staffer “It’s important to provide a safe space, regardless of the political environment.” The kids have been working on the proposal for close to two years, and got a crash course in city government — including the limits of the power of the City Council. They originally conceived of a requirement that every school set up a group to help gays but learned the Council doesn’t have the authority to mandate that. Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) introduced the legislation on their behalf Tuesday. “The rise of hate crimes nationally and in the city means it is more important than ever that the city supports our LGBTQ youth through these student-run clubs,” he said.</p>
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<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/education" hreflang="en">Education</a></div>
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Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:54:18 +0000Josh Jamieson5733 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña to tell principals to give lunch to all students, even those who can't pay by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-schools-chancellor-carmen-farina-tell-principals-give-lunch-all
<span>New York Daily News Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña to tell principals to give lunch to all students, even those who can't pay by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña to tell principals to give lunch to all students, even those who can't pay</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Thu, 05/18/2017 - 10:11am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/schools-chancellor-fari-students-lunch-article-1.3171070">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/schools-chancellor-fari-students-lunch-arti…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-05-16T00:00:00Z">Mon, 05/15/2017 - 20:00</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-05-16T12:00:00Z">Tue, 05/16/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The city has instituted universal free lunch for middle schools, but declined to expand it citywide.</p>
<p>Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) asked Fariña to also issue rules that school staffers could not go after parents to collect unpaid lunch fees later, but she declined to do that without studying it first.</p>
<p>“Students are not deprived of eating lunch because of money,” she said.</p>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><div itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171068.1494966357!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/175178412.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><figure><img alt="Model and Property Released (MR&PR)" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171068.1494966357!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/175178412.jpg" srcset="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171068.1494966357!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/175178412.jpg 750w, http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171068.1494966357!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/175178412.jpg 1200w" style="height: 167px; width: 250px;" /><figcaption><h2 itemprop="description">The city has instituted universal free lunch for middle schools, but declined to expand it citywide.</h2></figcaption></figure></div><article id="ra-body" itemprop="articleBody"><p>ill issue instructions to principals to give school lunch to any student who asks for it, even if they don’t have money to pay for it, she said Tuesday.</p><p>The de Blasio administration has long resisted a proposal pushed by the City Council to make school lunch free for all kids. But Fariña told the Council her policy is never to deny a student food, and she would make it official with written guidance sent to all schools.</p><p>“Those who may on a given day or week or whatever not have the required funds with them will get food. I will put out a memo immediately . . . to make sure that all principals understand that cafeteria workers are and should be giving out lunch to any student who needs it,” Fariña said.</p><p>“I will certainly put in writing to all principals that no child any time should be deprived of lunch.”</p><p><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/carmen-farina-denies-stalling-probe-yeshivas-political-article-1.3004948">Carmen Farina denies stalling of probe into yeshivas is political</a></p><p>The majority of public school students qualify for free lunch, but backers of universal free lunch say some kids are too embarrassed to claim the freebie when their peers are paying, while other families struggle to afford the mid-day meal even if they don’t qualify to get it for free.</p><div itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171069.1494966358!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/lunch17n-1-web.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><figure><img alt="NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171069.1494966358!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/lunch17n-1-web.jpg" srcset="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171069.1494966358!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/lunch17n-1-web.jpg 750w, http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3171069.1494966358!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/lunch17n-1-web.jpg 1200w" style="height: 178px; width: 250px;" /><figcaption><h2 itemprop="description">Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña will issue instructions to principals to give school lunch to any student who asks for it, even if they don’t have money to pay for it, she said Tuesday.</h2> <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/photos/dn-photographers/photographer?author=Marcus-Santos" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(MARCUS SANTOS)</a></figcaption></figure></div><p>The city has instituted universal free lunch for middle schools, but declined to expand it citywide.</p><p>Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) asked Fariña to also issue rules that school staffers could not go after parents to collect unpaid lunch fees later, but she declined to do that without studying it first.</p><p>“Students are not deprived of eating lunch because of money,” she said.</p></article></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/education" hreflang="en">Education</a></div>
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Thu, 18 May 2017 14:11:11 +0000Josh Jamieson5664 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News City Council passes construction safety bill forcing contractors to track, list deaths, injuries at building sites by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-city-council-passes-construction-safety-bill-forcing-contractors
<span>New York Daily News City Council passes construction safety bill forcing contractors to track, list deaths, injuries at building sites by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">City Council passes construction safety bill forcing contractors to track, list deaths, injuries at building sites</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Wed, 04/26/2017 - 10:12am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/nyc-council-oks-construction-safety-bill-list-deaths-injuries-article-1.3100214">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/nyc-council-oks-construction-safe…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-04-25T00:00:00Z">Mon, 04/24/2017 - 20:00</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-04-25T12:00:00Z">Tue, 04/25/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>“We’ll be able to see who’s getting hurt, where and why so that we as a city can make construction safer. We must count every life,” said Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), the bill’s sponsor.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The city will have to track and publish a full list of deaths and injuries at construction sites under a bill passed by the City Council Tuesday.</p><p>“We’ll be able to see who’s getting hurt, where and why so that we as a city can make construction safer. We must count every life,” said Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), the bill’s sponsor.</p><p>Contractors will have to report details including the type of injury, how long the worker has been on the job, and whether they were unionized. Construction companies that fail to report deaths face fines up to $25,000.</p><p>Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign the legislation.</p><p>Under another bill passed Tuesday, construction sites for buildings under ten stories will have to hire construction superintendents who will be charged with keeping the site safe.</p><p>The six bills voted on Tuesday left out the most controversial parts of the sweeping construction safety package the Council has been considered. Unions and construction firms have clashed over a proposed requirement for workers to go through apprenticeship programs.</p><p>Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said that proposal is still under negotiation.</p><p>“We look to pass the rest of the package soon, and we’ve been having very good conversations on the other bills,” she said.</p><p>Bills also passed Tuesday to require cranes to have GPS trackers and event data recorders, and require additional licensing for operators of large cranes.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/other" hreflang="en">Other</a></div>
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Wed, 26 Apr 2017 14:12:11 +0000Josh Jamieson5607 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News EXCLUSIVE: City Council bill to require recycling, compost bins in NYC businesses by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-exclusive-city-council-bill-require-recycling-compost-bins-nyc
<span>New York Daily News EXCLUSIVE: City Council bill to require recycling, compost bins in NYC businesses by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">EXCLUSIVE: City Council bill to require recycling, compost bins in NYC businesses</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Mon, 04/24/2017 - 10:18am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-council-bill-require-recycling-bins-nyc-businesses-article-1.3093084">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-council-bill-require-recycling-bins-ny…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-04-24T00:00:00Z">Sun, 04/23/2017 - 20:00</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-04-24T12:00:00Z">Mon, 04/24/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The legislation introduced by Councilman Ben Kallos would cover stores, restaurants, office building lobbies and all other public buildings where New Yorkers now often only have the option to trash paper and plastic items that could be recycled.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Businesses would have to offer up recycling and compost bins alongside their trash cans under a new bill set to be introduced in the City Council this week.</p><p>The legislation introduced by Councilman Ben Kallos would cover stores, restaurants, office building lobbies and all other public buildings where New Yorkers now often only have the option to trash paper and plastic items that could be recycled.</p><p>Currently, only a dismal 19% of commercial trash gets recycled. Kallos (D-Manhattan) said it’s easy to see on visits to other cities that New York has fallen way behind.</p><p>Compost is currently only collected in limited parts of the city, which would complicate efforts to separate it.</p><p>Kallos will also introduce a bill Tuesday to require the city to set a goal of sending no waste to landfills by 2030.</p><p>The legislation would require the city to produce a report explaining the failure if it cannot achieve the goal.</p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/environment" hreflang="en">Environment</a></div>
</div>
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:18:55 +0000Josh Jamieson5603 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News Rivington House sale not reason the Department of Citywide Administrative Services fired top official: commissioner by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-rivington-house-sale-not-reason-department-citywide-administrative
<span>New York Daily News Rivington House sale not reason the Department of Citywide Administrative Services fired top official: commissioner by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">Rivington House sale not reason the Department of Citywide Administrative Services fired top official: commissioner</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Fri, 01/13/2017 - 12:00am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/rivington-house-sale-not-reason-dcas-fired-top-official-article-1.2996648">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/rivington-house-sale-not-reason-dcas-fired-…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-03-13T00:00:00Z">Sun, 03/12/2017 - 20:00</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2017-03-13T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/13/2017 - 12:00pm</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>"It's not a topic that I can get into," Camilo said when asked by Council government operations chair Ben Kallos whether "poor performance" got Morales fired. She also refused to say whether Morales was cooperating with federal authorities investigating the mayor.</p>
<p>Camilo said she made the decision to get rid of Morales and informed first Deputy Mayor Tony Shorris. Morales's lawyer has said the dismissal was improper and called the timing "highly suspicious."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, DCAS revealed that since overhauling their rules on deed restrictions in response to the scandal, they've received requests to change or remove the restrictions on seven properties.</p>
<p>The properties are in Harlem, Longwood in the Bronx, and Bedford Stuyvesant, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Bushwick, and East New York in Brooklyn. No action has been taken on any of the proposals yet.</p>
<p>Kallos (D-Manhattan) said the Longwood request raises red flags because like Rivington, it is a non-profit nursing home and rehab facility currently restricted to that use.</p>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><div id="ra-body-wrap"><div itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2996647.1489426920!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/rivington-house.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><figure><img alt="NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2996647.1489426920!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/rivington-house.jpg" width="518" height="345" /><figcaption><h2 itemprop="description">The Rivington House property was sold to a condo developer at a massive profit.</h2></figcaption></figure></div>The firing of a top official at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services "had absolutely nothing to do" with a botched land deal that let Lower East Side nursing home Rivington House be flipped for luxury condos, the agency's commissioner said — but she refused to say whether it was related to other issues being probed by federal investigators.<article id="ra-body" itemprop="articleBody"><p>"That is a very sensitive personnel issue, as you can imagine," Commissioner Lisette Camilo said Monday as she was grilled by the City Council on the firing of deputy commissioner Ricardo Morales — who got the boot the same day Mayor de Blasio sat down with federal investigators probing his fundraising.</p><p>Morales approved the lifting of a deed restriction that had required Rivington House to be used for healthcare, a move that allowed the property to be sold to a condo developer at a massive profit.</p><p>But Camilo said that's not why she fired him. "Such a personnel issue had absolutely nothing to do with Rivington," she said.</p>The feds are also probing whether de Blasio or his aides intervened in lease negotiations on behalf of a donor, Harendra Singh, and his Water's Edge restaurant in Queens — another matter handled by DCAS.<p>"I'm not at liberty to discuss that," Camilo said when asked whether Morales was terminated over his dealings with Water's Edge.</p><p>DCAS's general counsel later refused to say whether it was Morales who rejected a proposed contract with the now-shuttered restaurant.</p><div itemid="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2996646.1489426919!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/dcas14n-2-web.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><figure><img alt="Ricardo Morales approved the lifting of a deed restriction that had required Rivington House to be used for healthcare." src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2996646.1489426919!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/dcas14n-2-web.jpg" width="531" height="332" /><figcaption><h2 itemprop="description">Ricardo Morales approved the lifting of a deed restriction that had required Rivington House to be used for healthcare.</h2> (KATHY KMONICEK/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)</figcaption></figure></div><p>"It's not a topic that I can get into," Camilo said when asked by Council government operations chair Ben Kallos whether "poor performance" got Morales fired. She also refused to say whether Morales was cooperating with federal authorities investigating the mayor.</p>Camilo said she made the decision to get rid of Morales and informed first Deputy Mayor Tony Shorris. Morales's lawyer has said the dismissal was improper and called the timing "highly suspicious."<p>Meanwhile, DCAS revealed that since overhauling their rules on deed restrictions in response to the scandal, they've received requests to change or remove the restrictions on seven properties.</p><p>The properties are in Harlem, Longwood in the Bronx, and Bedford Stuyvesant, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Bushwick, and East New York in Brooklyn. No action has been taken on any of the proposals yet.</p><p>Kallos (D-Manhattan) said the Longwood request raises red flags because like Rivington, it is a non-profit nursing home and rehab facility currently restricted to that use.</p></article></div><p> </p></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/land-use" hreflang="en">Land Use</a></div>
</div>
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000Josh Jamieson5498 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News City Council looking to fine construction sites blocking tyraffic without actual work going on by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-city-council-looking-fine-construction-sites-blocking-tyraffic
<span>New York Daily News City Council looking to fine construction sites blocking tyraffic without actual work going on by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">City Council looking to fine construction sites blocking tyraffic without actual work going on</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Tue, 12/06/2016 - 9:34am</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-fine-workless-construction-sites-blocking-traffic-article-1.2900146">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-fine-workless-construction-sites-block…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2016-12-06T00:00:00Z">Mon, 12/05/2016 - 19:00</time>
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<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2016-12-06T12:00:00Z">Tue, 12/06/2016 - 12:00pm</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Construction sties that block roads and snarl traffic when no actual work is going on would face fines under a bill being introduced Tuesday in the City Council.</p>
<p>The legislation, sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos, would require that roadblocks like traffic cones, barrels and Jersey barriers only be set up in the street for one hour before and one hour after work is underway.</p>
<p>Kallos (D-Manhattan, photo) said drivers often encounter traffic backups caused by construction barriers and road closures, only to find the site empty.</p>
<p>“New Yorkers want to get where they are going fast. Everyone hates traffic jams, especially when they are for road work, but no one is actually there doing the work,” he said. “It’s about making sure we are only impeding traffic and causing traffic when we absolutely need to.”</p>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><article id="ra-body" itemprop="articleBody"><p><img alt="Council Member Ben Kallos' bill would require that roadblocks like traffic cones, barrels and Jersey barriers only be set up for one hour before and one hour after work is underway" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2900143.1481019725!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/freelance.jpg" width="524" height="348" /></p><p>Construction sties that block roads and snarl traffic when no actual work is going on would face fines under a bill being introduced Tuesday in the City Council.</p><p>The legislation, sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos, would require that roadblocks like traffic cones, barrels and Jersey barriers only be set up in the street for one hour before and one hour after work is underway.</p><p>Kallos (D-Manhattan, photo) said drivers often encounter traffic backups caused by construction barriers and road closures, only to find the site empty.</p><p>“New Yorkers want to get where they are going fast. Everyone hates traffic jams, especially when they are for road work, but no one is actually there doing the work,” he said. “It’s about making sure we are only impeding traffic and causing traffic when we absolutely need to.”</p><p>Currently, construction crews need a permit to do road work, but there are no restrictions on what hours barriers can be up.</p><p>The Department of Transportation would set the amount to fine violators, and would respond to 311 complaints about unecessary barriers.</p><p> </p></article></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-issues field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/transportation" hreflang="en">Transportation</a></div>
</div>
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 14:34:16 +0000Josh Jamieson5293 at https://benkallos.comNew York Daily News Exclusive: NYC pol pushes anti-patronage bill requiring government jobs to be posted for two weeks before hiring by Erin Durkinhttps://benkallos.com/press-clip/new-york-daily-news-exclusive-nyc-pol-pushes-anti-patronage-bill-requiring-government
<span>New York Daily News Exclusive: NYC pol pushes anti-patronage bill requiring government jobs to be posted for two weeks before hiring by Erin Durkin</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-headline field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field--item">Exclusive: NYC pol pushes anti-patronage bill requiring government jobs to be posted for two weeks before hiring</div>
<span><span lang="" about="https://benkallos.com/users/josh-jamieson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Josh Jamieson</span></span>
<span>Mon, 08/15/2016 - 1:29pm</span>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-source field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/press-source/new-york-daily-news" hreflang="en">New York Daily News</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items">
<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/press-clip-author/erin-durkin" hreflang="en">Erin Durkin</a></div>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field--item"><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/pol-pushes-anti-patronage-bill-public-government-jobs-article-1.2751041">http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/pol-pushes-anti-patronage-bill-public-…</a></div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2016-08-15T00:00:00Z">Sun, 08/14/2016 - 20:00</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-date-only field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field--item"><time datetime="2016-08-15T12:00:00Z">Mon, 08/15/2016 - 12:00pm</time>
</div>
<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-excerpt field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>"When there aren't public postings, that's a good indication there may be patronage involved, or worse yet conflicts of interest," Kallos said. "New Yorkers would know about the 350,000 jobs the city has, and the city could expand its pool of qualified applicants," Kallos said.</p>
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<div class="field field--name-field-press-clip-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>City jobs would have to be publicly posted for two weeks before someone is hired under a bill set to be introduced in the City Council this week, in a move meant to cut down on patronage.</p><p>Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) is sponsoring the legislation to require 14 days of online job postings before interviews are done for government jobs.</p><p>Kallos said he wants to rein in patronage hiring at the city Board of Elections — where officials have long resisted calls to publicly post all their jobs.</p><p>BOE jobs are routinely filled by county political parties. In one case a commissioner helped her sister get hired the same day the sister handed over her resume, and in another the board president put his wife on the BOE payroll so she could get city health insurance for the family.</p><p>The requirement would apply to all city agencies for jobs except those filled through the civil service system, which has its own detailed rules.</p><p>"When there aren't public postings, that's a good indication there may be patronage involved, or worse yet conflicts of interest," Kallos said. "New Yorkers would know about the 350,000 jobs the city has, and the city could expand its pool of qualified applicants," Kallos said.</p></div>
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<div class="field--item"><a href="https://benkallos.com/category/issues/jobs" hreflang="en">Jobs</a></div>
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Mon, 15 Aug 2016 17:29:30 +0000Josh Jamieson5070 at https://benkallos.com